My name is Steven Egan and this is my character concept for the Creatures and Critter competition.
The "Tree Rumpf" is a legless creature, that uses it's arms to swing and wade through the trees of the forests. It's mouth a gaping hole comprised of its entire front, mouth, chest, abdomen. It is able to flex this mouth open extremely wide, able to swallow is prey whole, once the prey have succumb to the deadly poison of it's teeth they are moved back through it's body into membrane sack, where they remain, slowly being digested.... Much like a snake would consume it's prey. Also like the snake, the Tree Rumpf can expand it's sake up to 6 times it's normal size. While digesting it's prey the Tree Rumpf is mostly immobile, and has to rest on the ground at the base of the trees, as it weighs too much to climb them. During these short periods of time the Tree Rumpf is vulnerable to attack from larger predators. However, the Tree Rumpf (again much like a snake) can quickly regurgitate it's prey in times of danger. In order to defend itself or climb up into the trees for cover.
While the Tree Rumpf can move very fast on it's four hands, it prefers to sit and wait for it's prey to come to it. It likes to place itself between two trees, just out of sight, and behind the cover of the undergrowth. It waits until something (anything) edible to pass unknowingly by, and that's when it lunges out using all the power of it's arms. With it's mouth wide open, before the victim even knows whats coming, it's already too late. The Tree Rumpf has sunk hundreds of poising coated teeth into it's back and neck. Unlike a snake, it doesn't matter which way the Tree Rumpf consumes it's prey. Head first, Tail first, it's membrane sack is able to expand to meet the demand, and it's ever expanding mouth has no problem tackling the job. If there are any obstructions that might damage the Tree Rumpf, such as Antlers, or Horns, he will simply snap then off before consuming. While the Tree Rumpf likes to hunt during the day, he can easily hunt at night too. His four large round eyes allow him to see very well in the dark.
The Tree Rumpf can climb high in the trees, but prefers to move about the trunks, at almost ground level. Thanks to the Tree Rumpf four hands, and extended pads that run up it's forearms, the Tree Rumpf is able to rap it's hands around thick tree trunks.
Here is my concept sketch of the Tree Rumpf. I think the final model will be on a forest floor style base. With a couple of tree trunks to pose the creature on.
Here is a basic paint over in Photoshop. I may still try and improve this.
And here is an anatomy sketch that I did for the creature. Ignore the neck section. I drew that at an early stage in the design, when the creature was going to have a neck.
The final pose will be different than the one in the concept. I'm thinking of having the creature more laid back, just after he has eaten, with his membrane sack fully extended, and the clear presence of a dear in it, and the dears foot will be hanging out of his mouth. I will still have him snarling, as I want it to look like we've walked in on him eating and he's not very happy about it.
As for the modeling, I think I will be using ZBrush for the entire thing.
Looking forward to hanging around on the boards!
Cheers,
Steven
Love the initial sketch, really dark and scary. Very cool, hope to see a 3D start soon man. 
